Commercial Transactions Counsel | Kent, Ohio

Position Overview

Summary of Functions:

Davey Tree has an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Commercial Transactions Counsel (“Counsel”) with an interest in joining a dynamic legal team in a growing employee-owned company.  Under the supervision of the General Counsel and Associate General Counsel for Business Transactions, the Counsel will be primarily responsible for reviewing and redlining contracts and bid proposals, drafting and updating contract templates, assisting with commercial deals, advising business partners on legal/business terms, and providing guidance on the risks and benefits of commercial transactions.  Ideally, the Counsel will also have experience in the utility industry, particularly the utility line clearance or grid management industry. 

The Counsel will be expected to interact with and assist all aspects of Davey Tree’s business, including external clients, internal support departments, and the Utility, Davey Resource Group, Residential, and Commercial service lines.  The types of commercial documents encountered will include, among others, bids, proposals, services agreements, procurement agreements, supply and distribution agreements, real estate documents, marketing agreements and arrangements, licensing and software agreements, and consulting agreements.  This role also will provide opportunities for involvement in discussions with business partners regarding strategic reviews and potential business opportunities.  A crucial skill is the ability to be an indispensable business partner while also clearly communicating legal risks.

This role can offer some schedule flexibility, allowing for part-time work from home along with in-office time.  There also is potential for future growth into other areas, such as intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, environmental and mitigation banking agreements, and legal entity structures.

Job Duties

Essential Functions:

• Review, redline, and negotiate various types of commercial contracts.
• Assist with improving contract templates and contract review process.
• Provide support for commercial transactions, including acquisitions.
• Understand business drivers and risk tolerance, particularly in the utility industry.
• Provide formal and informal training to business teams on legal risks relating to contracts.
• Facilitate communications between legal department, support teams, service lines, and external clients.
• Occasional legal research and factual investigations.
• Work with and manage outside counsel who assist the legal department.
• Manage and monitor deadlines.
• Handle special projects, as assigned.
• Perform other duties as requested or assigned.
• Occasional travel may be required.

Qualifications

Qualifications/Skills:

• 5+ years of relevant experience preferred, ideally in the utility industry.
• J.D Required 
• In-house counsel experience preferred.
• Management experience of support staff
• Adept at assisting and working with business partners to devise practical solutions to achieve business goals.
• Interest in and understanding of general commercial legal matters will be crucial to success.
• Comfort with learning, understanding, and managing online contract management system.
• Excellent analytical and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to read and interpret written information clearly and accurately.

Additional Information

Additional Qualifications/Skills:

• Attention to detail and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priority items.
• Ability to establish and maintain cordial and effective relationships with in-house clients and work effectively with a wide variety of individuals.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced working environment and handle high-stress situations.
• Initiative-taking and confident to work independently, while maintaining strong teamwork skills.
• Ability to recognize and react appropriately to emergency situations.
• Demonstrated high level of professionalism, including ability to be flexible with others, display tact, diplomacy, and discretion, and maintain integrity of confidential and sensitive information.
• Establish and maintain relationships and trust with business and support department partners.
• Ability to provide training to business on key areas of business and legal risk management.

Company Overview

Davey Tree is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action employer.  Davey Tree’s success as a service provider depends upon our ability to attract and retain qualified personnel, regardless of their age, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, military or veteran status, or other protected characteristics as established by federal, state, or local law.

Davey Tree is an employee-owned company that provides tree, utility, lawn care, and environmental consulting services throughout the United States and Canada.  Davey Tree was founded in 1880 and has been employee-owned for more than 40 years and has more than 11,000 employees.  Davey Tree provides a wide range of arboriculture, horticulture, and environmental and consulting services to private companies, public utilities, local, state, and federal agencies, and various industrial, commercial, and residential customers. 

The Davey Tree Expert Company provides research-driven tree services, grounds maintenance and environmental consulting for residential, utility, commercial and environmental partners in the U.S. and Canada. We care about our clients, each other and the world around us. We offer the resources, size and stability of a big company while maintaining the culture, entrepreneurial spirit and feel of a small one. We invest in our employees by offering industry-leading training, technology and benefits that lead to a rewarding and safe work experience at all levels. Wherever you want to grow your career, there’s a place for you at Davey. To learn more, visit Davey.com.